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When IBM opened a center in central Ohio a year ago focused on big-data analytics, there was also hope that the operation would help attract similar companies involved in this fast-growing area.

That promise takes a step forward today as Persistent Systems, an international software and tech-services company, opens a Dublin office — the Collaborative Software Development Center.

The company plans to hire 56 employees at the Dublin location and quickly expand to 100 employees.

Big-data analytics involves capturing, analyzing and making sense of the billions of bits of data produced every minute by millions of computer users, and then helping companies and other organizations to put the information to use.

With more than 85 percent of Persistent Systems’ business coming from U.S. clients, company officials said the Dublin office will be key in expanding relationships with regional companies in telecommunications, life sciences, health care, and the banking and financial-services sectors.

Those companies include IBM Analytics and Cardinal Health, both of which are located very close to Persistent Systems’ 8,500-square-foot operation at 5080 Tuttle Crossing Blvd. Tom Walker, CEO and president of technology business incubator TechColumbus, called it “a prime location with potential for significant expansion.”

The importance of this addition to big-data efforts in central Ohio can be seen in the big-name guest list for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning.

“We’re excited about Persistent’s choice to do business in Dublin,” said Kenny McDonald, chief economic officer of Columbus 2020. “The Columbus region continues to grow as a center for talent and technology companies.”

The opening of Persistent Systems’ facility is “a significant event for Dublin and central Ohio,” Walker said. “The (information technology) sector in Dublin and the region is vibrant, as evidenced by the many companies locating or expanding operations here — including Chase, Cardinal, IBM and the rest.

“Persistent Systems’ presence will help our region to retain talent,” Walker said, and “will boost the efforts of Columbus 2020 and the region in attracting additional firms.”

The area’s attractions were obvious to Persistent, especially “the many excellent colleges and universities in the Columbus region,” said company President Hari Haran, in a statement. “Persistent Systems is looking forward to attracting the brightest graduates specializing in the fields of computer science, engineering and statistics.”

He and Anand Deshpande, CEO of the Indian company, are scheduled to be on hand at the ceremonies today.

Founded in 1990, and with revenue of $237.8 million in the past year, Persistent Systems has 7,000 employees in several locations — including its global headquarters in Pune, India; U.S. headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif.; and its regional offices in Seattle and Charlotte, N.C.